Engineering students at New City College’s Rainham Construction and Engineering Campus have gained valuable insight into one of the region’s biggest infrastructure projects during a visit from construction giant Balfour Beatty.
The team spoke to students about the Lower Thames Crossing, a major new road and tunnel project that will connect Kent and Essex beneath the River Thames, helping to ease congestion at the Dartford Crossing and improve transport links across the South East.
With Balfour Beatty appointed to deliver the roads north of the Thames, the £1.2 billion contract represents a significant opportunity for local people looking to build careers in engineering and construction.
The project is expected to create thousands of jobs across its workforce and supply chain, with demand for skilled engineers, apprentices and other construction professionals as work progresses. Main tunnelling works are planned to begin in 2028, with the new crossing expected to open in the early to mid-2030s.
For students currently studying engineering at Rainham campus, the project offers an exciting opportunity to turn their qualifications into rewarding careers close to home. With Balfour Beatty committed to recruiting local people as part of its social value programme, students who develop the right skills and experience could be well placed to apply for future roles.
